Time of Troubles
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Early story warning “We have inherited the mysteries of the Thran, but few of the answers.”
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| Time of Troubles | |||||
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| Era | War with Phyrexia | ||||
| Date | Autumn, 4069 AR | ||||
| Location | Kush, Western Lands, Aerona, Dominaria | ||||
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The Time of Troubles was event that happened in the city of Kush in 4069 AR.
Description
The Time of Troubles was a period of upheaval and strife in the city of Kush, marked by the return of the wizard Garth and the collapse of the brutal regime that had long controlled the city.
Background
Kush was a city where bloodsport reigned supreme, with its populace enthralled by battles fought both in the streets and in the Arena. Zarel Ewine, the Grand Master of the Arena, wielded immense power, keeping both the populace and the Four Houses in check. Each year, the Festival of the Arena was held, originally a test of skill between the Houses. However, after the former Grand Master Kuthuman had destroyed the Fifth House of Oor-tael and ascended to Planeswalker status, the festival had turned into a bloodbath. Kuthuman returned annually, taking his tribute of mana and luring the tournament’s victor to supposed glory, only to kill them and steal their power.
History
Garth arrived in the city of Kush and was quickly drawn into its deadly culture of magical duels and gladiatorial combat.[1] He found an ally in Hammen, an old thief who led a brotherhood of pickpockets. Through a public magical duel, Garth earned the moniker "One-Eye" and soon became a figure of interest among the four Houses of Kush.
During his time in Kush, Garth encountered Norreen, a Benalish warrior seeking to prove herself and escape the rigid caste system of her homeland.[2] After aiding her against dishonorable foes, he gained her reluctant gratitude. Garth continued to engage in magical duels, shifting allegiances among the four houses and inciting discord, leading to increased unrest in the city.
Captured by Grand Master Zarel, Garth was subjected to torture to extract his motives.[3] However, he was freed by Hammen, Norreen, and Varena, a respected fighter with whom he had shared a brief romance. He soon revealed his true origins: he was a survivor of the destroyed Fifth House, the son of its slain leader. Hammen, once a loyal servant of his father, had sought to protect him in the years since. When Garth entered the Arena under the banner of the lost House, the city erupted into chaos.
The final battles of the Festival were declared deathmatches by Zarel and Kuthuman to ensure Garth's demise and to quell growing dissent. Fighters who opposed the decree were summarily executed. In one of the most tragic moments of the conflict, Garth was forced to kill Varena in a duel, as her warrior's honor bound her to fight to the death.
Despite overwhelming odds, Garth emerged as the tournament's champion, only to be whisked away by Kuthuman, who attempted to kill him. However, Garth turned the tables, wounding the Planeswalker and escaping his clutches. Meanwhile, in Kush, the city erupted into open rebellion. The Four Houses, emboldened by Garth’s defiance, turned against Zarel, but were decimated in the conflict. Zarel himself faced a mob, slaughtering many before preparing to execute Hammen, Norreen, and their ally, the massive but simple-minded fighter Naru. At the last moment, Garth returned, engaging in a climactic duel with Zarel and ultimately driving a dagger into his heart, ending his tyranny. In the aftermath, as the city burned, Norreen embraced Garth — only for the two of them to vanish, drawn away once more by Kuthuman.
Aftermath
Three years later, the Westlands were renamed Kush, and the old city had been rebuilt, taking the new name Estark, its Arena restored to a contest of skill rather than senseless bloodshed. Hammen and Naru had risen to become Masters of their respective Houses, and the resurrected Varena had been named the new Grand Master. Order had returned to the city. In a final twist, Norreen and Garth reappeared, having defeated Kuthuman and sealed his portal, ensuring he could never return. They met with Hammen one last time to confirm their survival before retreating to the countryside to raise their child, whom they intended to name after him.
Timeline
- Five days before the 998th Festival of the Arena
- Four days before Festival
- Three days before Festival
- When Norreen demands payment from Bolk, a riot breaks out and at least thirteen Bolk and Kestha fighters are killed, with fifty more injured.[5][6]
- Garth joins Ingkara[5]
- Zarel has Hammen's pickpocket brotherhood raided.[7] Most, including Rico, Matu, Evanual, and Nahatkim are killed. Some, including Petros, are captured and imprisoned.
- Garth rescues Hammen, killing five fighters of the Grand Master.[7]
- Two days before Festival
- Varena defeats Garth in a duel and the two sleep together.[7]
- Garth is captured by fighters of the Grand Master. Several fighters are killed in the struggle.[3]
- Tens of thousands begin to protest the Grand Master.[8][9] Several lower rank fighters of the Grand Master are killed in the ensuing riots, and several hundred rioters are killed in return.[10]
- The day before Festival
- First day of Festival
- The Festival opens at noon. Multiple civilians are killed in the opening procession.[10]
- The first three rounds of 25 matches included:[11]
- Haglin of Fentesk vs. Erwina of Bolk, who received 3-to-1 odds of victory.
- Lorrin of Kestha vs. Naru of Bolk. Naru won.
- Alinar of Fentesk vs. Ogla of Bolk.
- Farnin of Bolk vs. Petrakov of Fentesk, fought to the death, with Petrakov taking victory.
- A deathmatch in which both fighters killed each other.
- Varena of Fentesk vs. another ninth-rank fighter. Varena won.
- A sixth-rank fighter vs. a second-rank fighter, fought to the death, with the sixth-rank winning.
- Garth vs. Silmar, fought to the death, with Garth winning.
- At least four other fighters are killed.
- Garth, dressed as a Fentesk fighter, knocks out Josega and another Kestha member, starting a riot in the Great Plaza.[12] Several hundred homes and businesses burn, scores are killed, and hundreds injured. Six Fentesk and Kestha fighters and eight Bolk and Ingkara fighters are killed, including the second-highest ranking fighter in Kestha.
- Second day of Festival
- The three elimination rounds included:[12]
- Garth vs. a female second-rank fighter of Kestha. Garth wins in seconds, declining to take the fighter's spell.
- Garth vs. a fighter wielding fireball, which he wins.
- Forty fighters remain by the noon recess.[12]
- In the fourth elimination round:[12]
- Garth vs. Ulin of Ingkara, fought to the death, with Garth winning.
- Varena and Naru win their matches.
- Most or all matches are to the death, with one ending with a mutual kill.
- In the fifth elimination round:[12]
- Garth vs. Naru, fought to the death, with Garth knocking Naru unconscious and declaring a win.
- Varena vs. the champion of Ingkara, with Varena winning.
- Eight fighters remain.[13]
- Garth rigs the Grand Master's catapult teams to launch scorpions, hornets, and vipers into the crowds.[12] The crowd charges the field. One thousand or more rioters and several hundred warriors of the Grand Master are killed.[13]
- The three elimination rounds included:[12]
- Final day of Festival
- Kuthuman arrives. Garth reveals his identity as Galin of Oor-tael.[13]
- The sixth round of elimination, all subsequent fights to the death:[13]
- Azema of Kestha vs. Jolina of Ingkara
- Varena vs. a fighter of Kestha. Varena wins her fight.
- Garth vs. Igun of Ingkara. Garth wins his fight.
- The seventh round of elimination:[13]
- Varena vs. another fighter of Fentesk.[a]
- Garth vs. Gilganorin of Ingkara. Garth wins, and Kuthuman kills Gilganorin for surrendering.
- Final match: Garth vs. Varena. Garth wins, becoming Kuthuman's champion.[13]
- Kuthuman planeswalks with Garth.[14] Garth challenges him, stealing the power to ignite his own spark.[15]
- Hammen rescues Varena and instigates another riot against Zarel.[14] He responds by slaughtering the mob without mercy. Naru and eleven other fighters of Bolk, as well as at least one from Kestha, desert.[15]
- The day after Festival
- Midnight — The remaining fighters of the four houses and the Grand Master battle in the Great Plaza.[15] Ingkara sides with the Grand Master. Zarel kills Varnel. Uriah kills Tulan. Kirlen teleports away. Most of Bolk's fighters flee. Jimak commits suicide. The four palaces are burned and destroyed. Zarel, empowered by the mana recovered from the dead, begins to kill civilians in the hundreds.
- Garth returns and fights Zarel.[15] The mob begins killing fighters and warriors of the Grand Master and looting the Great Palace. Uriah and Zarel kill each other.
Notes
- ↑ Based on the known fights from the sixth round, Varena's opponent should have been the winner of the fight between Azema of Kestha and Jolina of Ingkara, neither of whom was from Fentesk. This is likely a continuity error.
References
- ↑ a b c d William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 1". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 3". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 7". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 2". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 4". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 5". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 6". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 8". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 9". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 10". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 11". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c d e f William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 12". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c d e f William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 13". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 14". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c d William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 15". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.